What is Your State of the Union Message? Here's Mine
The Speech he SHOULD give...
Twelve years after we began our war against those who so brutally attacked our country on 9/11. I am here to specifically say to you that our armed services have done your job and you have done your job well. The State of our Union is currently framed fighting two ground wars and restructuring our financial system.
As the Commander and Chief I am expected to lead and a leader must make decisions that will take into account all available knowledge and rationality.
As your Commander-in-Chief I am announcing the immediate withdrawal of all troops from the Mid-east Theater of operations effective immediately. We urge our allies to do the same.
After careful analysis and intensive debate from within and without my administration the decision as to how to proceed in this war is on my shoulders. I take that responsibility and now I give you my rationales and how we will deal with these countries and these threats in the future.
A country must determine with careful consideration what its primary and secondary interests are. Failure to determine these priorities leads to poor allocation of important national assets and most importantly how and when to enter into war and when it is necessary to put in harm’s way those men and women of our armed services who are obligated to enforce all lawful and just actions of our country.
We entered Iraq under a stated analysis from the Executive Branch of our government that was based upon totally false and misleading information. It was a mistake to have attacked Iraq and it is a mistake to stay there. Iraq has duplicity in this regard; they could have at any time opened up their country to total inspection and disproved these false allegations. They did not and share in
the responsibility of the aftermath. We offer no apology but we will now correct that mistake and leave.
The stated rationale for our incursion into Afghanistan was to attack the bases from which we were attacked on 9/11 and to arrest those responsible. I have determined that “nation-building” by the United States in Afghanistan is not in our primary interest and therefore order all our military to exit that theater as soon as
possible in a manner that will protect our troops.
One of the primary strengths of our country is our ability defend ourselves. That takes money and capital. To squander that asset in wars that are not in our primary interest is to damage our national security, not improve it, and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have done exactly that over the past eight years. I am going to immediately end the squander of $100 billion/year in this region. Additionally, effective immediately, the United States will end its foreign aid commitments to both Israel and Egypt by 50% over the next three years and to zero after that period. We are ending our troop involvement in South Korea, Okinawa and Germany.
In regard to war and our ability to wage it we have two primary advantages: 1. Our technology and, 2. Our asset base of capital and highly educated people.
In future conflicts we will use those assets to promote our primary interests. We warn any country that attempts to attack our primary interests that they will be met, not with troops on the ground as they would like, but with a technology that will give them great pause and with collateral damage that will be on the shoulders of those who do not now heed my warning. I warn in no uncertain terms that those who use this reduction in troop exposure will not mean that they are immune to the sting of the United States. I am certain that we will be tested in this regard and we are ready for that test.
Additionally, I am removing all U.S. troops from Europe, Okinawa and South Korea.
These measures will attempt to bring our fiscal house in order. Finally, in regard to heath care, I am urging the Congress to continue to advance the taxing of those with high incomes but at the same time to impose a 3% Federal Health Sales Tax on all purchases up to $1,000 so that every legal person in our country is afforded adequate health care and has an awareness of its costs. If we are successful in squeezing out efficiencies and these taxes are not needed then I am sure Congress will find a way to reduce or eliminate them. But the time of the great “handout” is over. We are going to run a balanced budget. We are gong to pay for things we want up-front, as we go. Our kids and grandkids will not carry our wasteful burden. We are going to put the Social Security system in the black and we are going to eliminate all Federal debt.
In regard to immigration I am going to urge only if the Federal Health Tax is approved a complete end to immigration into the United States for a period of 50 years and that those attempting to enter the country illegally may be dealt with by deadly force at our borders.
In so doing, our defense capability will be the strongest in the world, the most flexible and if needed, the most feared and respected.
I anticipate that the county will intensely debate these new proclamations that I have made here today. Many will disagree. It is the way. But I am the leader of this country; I was elected to guide us for these four years or perhaps longer and
the people have a right to see their leader use circumspection and rationality. I do this because I think it is right.
Axxel Knutson
Lee Jacobsen
2:45 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Axxel, at least you have confirmed your future as a politician , in the NO column of course! My comments will be shorter, as there is a 1500 character limit.
The first task is to pass a 28th amendment, often mentioned , rarely taken seriously, that states that our legislators, including the president , have to obey and fall under the same laws that they pass for us. ie Obamacare. In Wash DC parents can't pick and choose their schools like all the legislative folk, and why do most legislative folk have armed protection in a city with such strong gun laws? There should be nothing to fear, right? Criminals simply buy guns in Wash DC.
Now why are they criminals??? Don't follow laws??
You spent a lot of time with the middle east. There is a saying, keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. Let them blow up their land, not ours. Keep giving planes and aid to Egypt, the military are our friends, the politicians are not. Besides, those planes we sell them need batteries every six months, can't buy them in China. How many of them are rigged with remotes do you figure? Read some Flynn books, we need more Mitch Rapps in the middle east, kicking common sense into the locals. Your immigration policy is like the anti abortion policy, the heart is in the right place, but there will always be pregnancy and abortions. Trashing folk with deadly force will do nothing. Just enforce existing laws, a novel approach that has yet to be done. Less govt is best.
Jordan Genso
3:41 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
I have heard this many times, but I've never had the opportunity to ask the logical follow-up question:
What do you mean when you state that our legislators are exempted from Obamacare? Do they not have to abide by the individual mandate? What aspect of Obamacare applies to you and me that does not apply to a member of Congress?
I hope you will answer my question, as I ask in earnest.
Jordan Genso
11:47 am on Sunday, February 17, 2013
Lee, so I see you did come back to this thread to comment again, but decided not to answer my question.
I'll take that to mean you have no answer, and your statement is nothing but non-sense. What a shame, since I've heard so many people repeat that non-sense.
Cathy Fucinari
1:23 pm on Sunday, February 17, 2013
It is my understanding, due to conversations with our congressional delegation, that Obamacare was modeled after the healthcare program that federal employees have, and that INCLUDES the President and congressional members.
Lee Jacobsen
1:12 am on Monday, February 18, 2013
Jordan, the answer as to whether legislators must abide by Obamacare is no for now, but yes in 2014 according to this Forbes articlehttp://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2011/12/08/congress-exempted-from-obamacare/
According to Obamacare, the legislators must buy from the exchanges just like all of us. Of course, they can afford the better plans from the exchanges , but , if the law is actually followed, then we should all have equal access.
In other areas of govt, this is not true. Politicians always have themselves covered. Details are here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_the_United_States
We are writing 3000 pages of new laws per day. The income tax law that we all must follow when filing our 1040 returns totals over 3 million words , longer than the bible.
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/01/09/u-s-tax-code-longer-than-the-bible-without-good-news/
Time to simplfy the govt and get rid of red tape. Start with a budget and less spending.
Jordan Genso
11:35 am on Monday, February 18, 2013
So just as I don't have to purchase health insurance until 2014, members of Congress also don't *have* to purchase insurance until 2014. In 2014, they will be able to afford better health insurance than me, but there are many non-members of Congress in the country who could afford that same health insurance.
I was not going to dispute that members of Congress may have exempted themselves from some laws, but this whole "Congressmen don't have to follow Obamacare" lie has been used as an attack on Obamacare, not Congress. And that is the lie I was hoping to get clarification about.
Thank you for responding.
Sarah Franklin
10:41 am on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Great idea... good idea ... bad ideas
1) 28th Amendment has been discussed for too long and the gist of having legislators not have any benefits the rest of Americans receive simply needs to happen. Should of actually been part of 27th amendment.
2) Downsizing military with respect to people (not technology) and bringing "most troops home" from all stations in the world also makes a lot of sense to me. We live in a world where terror (not Cold War) is the threat and terror needs to be fought with high-tech (drones) and Special Ops forces, which are clearly much cheaper than large quantities of boots on the ground
3) Taxing more to pay for ObamaCare??? Are you really kidding??? Please tell me you are. I am sick of taxes going up on the people who work to pay for the people that don't work-period! If you don't want to work, than don't expect even more handouts. If this society keeps paying for housing, food, education and health care for those who don't work, then where is the incentive to ever get a job???
4) Stopping all immigration is a bad idea. Preventing immigration of uneducated immigrants with their hands open and minds and pockets empty is a great idea. This country needs more tax paying, hard-working smart people with good values, to keep the economy growing. Borrow from Canada on this theme; they welcome immigration if you have skills they need and for the rest they simply say -- go to the US
Bob of RO
2:20 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Good post. It's time for our NATO allies to step up to the plate and provide for their own defense. We are not their enforcers. We are their partners.
It's alright to have some uneducated immigrants come in to work the fields and clean hotel rooms. As long as they are working to achieve the American dream for themselves and their children.
Ronald Wolf
5:00 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Start with where you live, and it follows like night the day, the rest will follow (thanks Bill).
To paraphrase Groucho: "You don't need to have relatives in Royal Oak to be unhappy." (originally Kansas City) Guess people are the same wherever you are.
AXXEL KNUTSON
5:42 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Social Security was designed to pay for retirees for about seven years. Retirees typically now live 20. Retirement age has to be increased to 70. That would be a beginning. 2. Universal health care funded in part by a 3% Federal Health Care Sales tax so EVERYONE pays something. 3. Squish the DOD by at least 60% and force them to fund for rational threats 4. Tax gas guzzlers out of existence with a $5.00/gal tax at the pump for any car that does not get at least 50 MPG with a 5 year grace period. 5. Any war that is important enough should be supplied with troops starting at age 100 and going down without deferments. How? Stop voting for Republicans and Democrats.
Haulin T Male
1:24 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
I do pay for my medicare at 120 a month, it comes right out of my SS ck. I also paid in full every yr. my FICA, set by congress......... to raise it to age 70, is so demeaning to those who never reach that age.
Haulin T Male
1:39 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
The only reason there is talk of not having enough $$$ come from the Fact the Congress borrowed for the SS fund, a couple of times and never paid it back, in no way at all, let people feel it was our fault, there is not enough, we paid it in......... we are only getting back what we paid in, indexed to Inflation.
there are congress and others say there is enough, take care of the abuse in the heath care system, that are soaking the public, and the system, every one that is getting medical help will see, what I am talking about....... there are so many different price structures out there. one small example, my medicine......... 90 day supply, 6 different heart and diabetes, = all the way from 800 + if you have insurance, sent to the insurance, and locally at sams walmart rite aid, cvs, Kroger was the cheapest untill they adjusted their price on one drug, etc...... I have quotes of 195 down to 95.00 for generic .......... sams and walmart are the same basically, so why such a big difference....... buyer be where. Rite aid surprising is the cheapest so far.... at 95.00 ......... why are the insurance co's charged so much more? when foot traffic can get it 90% cheaper or so...........
Bob of RO
2:26 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Preposterous!
Cut the DoD by 60%? That's crazy. Way too much.
There's no reason to tax gas guzzlers. The free market is already doing the job. How about nat gas for transportation. We have too much of it already.
No need for more taxes.
The only problem with social security is the government does not want to honor the benefits of generation X. There is a file cabinet in the Social Security Administration offices that is literal filled with I.O.U.s from our general fund. The recipients of today stood idly by while President Johnson started that trend. You want to fix it? Start your cuts with the current recipients.
Dale Murrish
5:52 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
I agree with Lee and Sarah on this one, Axxel. As far as no reason to fight the War on Terror, you should remember that both political parties in Congress approved military action and still approve all appropriations for overseas involvement.
President Obama campaigned on a platform to close Guantanamo Bay and now realizes it’s in America’s best interest to keep it. So it’s still open after four years and probably will never close. He’s found out that it’s a lot easier to campaign than to govern.
Suggest reading Condoleeza Rice’s book “No Higher Honor” for an inside look at what the Bush Administration knew and was thinking during this time period. It has good insights into the world of diplomacy and national security. I’m just now up to the place where she became Secretary of State during Bush’s second term.
More than half of my analysis group at work are first generation immigrants. No American citizens were qualified for the work they do. They are highly educated, innovative people who are here legally. Most came here for graduate school, have become U.S. citizens after a long process and vote regularly.
America needs to enforce the border laws we have, correct its 30+ years of lax immigration policy, while providing more opportunity for all people to work hard and contribute.
Isolationism is not the answer for America’s foreign policy. It’s been tried before and failed.
Cathy Fucinari
1:26 pm on Sunday, February 17, 2013
Wow. Dale. That represents a breakthrough. "It's a lot easier to campaign than to govern/" That's a big step. Remember the corollary: "It's a lot easier to complain than to govern."
Col. Duke Lacrosse
9:09 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Too bad this guy wasn't giving that speech:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GfJaLzbm40
Lee Jacobsen
11:54 pm on Wednesday, February 13, 2013
I suspect Axxel is just 'playing with us', no one can be that naive about the workings of the modern world. For example, we all know SS , which began in 1935, was designed to cover those folk that lived to age 65, the govt knowing full well at the time that the average life expectancy was only 62. Oops!!! Now it covers a lot more than just retirement See more here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_Security_(United_States)
Interesting that Axxel has no concept of a budget, that we all need to give more to the govt so the entitlements can be given to all that put out a hand. His 3% health tax is just a start. Clearly Axxell needs to start a business, and learn first hand what govt red tape really is. He will learn that the govt is your partner, in name only, and does not make anything, only makes it hard for you to keep anything. Where else do you have a business partner with no risk, yet demands 45% of the corporate profits, highest in the world? No wonder companies are going elsewhere to survive, along with their jobs, ie Eaton to Ireland with only an 11% tax burden. His comment on our boys in uniform does not deserve the courtesy of a response, clearly Axxel would be chopped meat if we were in a closed room.
His $5 gas tax per gal only hurts the middleclass and is job negative. Axxel , nice tongue in cheek, but the Col speech link is the real winner so far, many common sense ideas. Bottom line, Dale makes much more sense than Axxel.
Daffy Noodnicks
12:29 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Lee: Your 45% corporate tax rate is the nominal rate including state, and local tax. The effective tax rate (what is actually laid) is much much lower due to loopholes and other factors. The effective rate is is actually quite low. In 2011 it was lower that any time since before WWI (WSJ, 2/3/12).
Larry D
1:11 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
Lee, Doesn't the government provide transportation for you, your suppliers and your customers? Doesn't it educate your workforce? Doesn't it provide security, in the form of national defense, and local police and fire? Doesn't it protect you from anti-trust predatory attacks by bigger companies than yours? Doesn't it provide a court system to collect from customers who don't pay their bills? And as stated by Daffy N. below, the actual effective rate paid is no where near 45%.
And if health care coverage were paid for through a national tax, how much would you save by not having to provide it separately, and less efficiently, for your workers and yourself?
Lee Jacobsen
11:20 pm on Friday, February 15, 2013
Daffy, loopholes are available for the big public companies that can afford to have satellite tax haven plants in other countries etc, corporate jets, off shore subsidaries, etc, something the little guys like me and thousands of others can't afford. End result, i pay near the top rate. So much for your other factors. Here are your tax loopholes....none that the majority of corporations can afford to use
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/02/25/8-ridiculous-tax-loopholes-how-companies-are-avoiding-the-tax-man.html
Larry, the govt is my unwelcome silent partner in business that takes no risk, brings nothing to the table except red tape, takes a large share of any profit, and yes, I made my business, not the govt. I educated my workforce to make my product, my taxes paid for the roads, arm and protect myself, and pay the bills without govt loans. My taxes pay the bills for police and fire, and i collect my own bills my way.
i pay the high corporate rate, not rich enough to hire lobbyists like the unions to get loopholes. Heath care savings? Are you kidding? Most small companies have given up providing healthcare long ago, choosing to survive rather than provide benefits and go out of business. Who pays for the so-called healthcare tax? We do. Finally, private companies actually have to work within a budget, unlike our govt. who spends money like it is water. Bartering is actually a decent option, no money changing hands, and no taxes as a result.
Daffy Noodnicks
1:02 pm on Sunday, February 17, 2013
Without getting into too much detail about how I make my living, it would be unprofessional to comment further except to say, while there are deductions and exemptions, and other legitimate means of minimizing a corporations tax burden available to very large public companies that are not available to smaller companies, as you very correctly say, the opposite is also very true. If you are unable to utilize any of these, I'm sorry to hear that.
Cathy Fucinari
1:28 pm on Sunday, February 17, 2013
Perhaps you need a better-trained accountant.
laplateau
9:02 am on Thursday, February 14, 2013
I wish I could share your position about Axxel just kidding around. He sounds scary to me and someone you might think would be in Obama's cabinet. He would fit right in
laplateau
9:03 am on Thursday, February 14, 2013
And just a comment about wind power; Mason County, MI has just begun to allow wind farms to be built in areas perhaps less than a mile or so from the Lake Michigan coastline. IF one would like to see the terrible effect they have on the aesthetics of the countryside, please drive north on US 3i. Even 10-12 miles before you get to the border between Oceana and Mason counties, you see these behemoths looking ahead of you. As you drive, they become larger and larger until you are actually upon them on the east side of US 31. Wow, one cannot comprehend the size of these monstrosities, and so far, there are only about 6-70 of them, with more going up all the time. What used to be pristine and bucolic scenery is now been wiped away with these things. And, guess what, they are not even being built in Michigan or even the US. Guess where most are being built…yep, China.
Col. Duke Lacrosse
12:05 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
So you think you have a right to not have the "aesthetics of the countryside" impacted in some way you find terrible. This is incredibly disrespectful of the owners of that property and the businesses involved in maintaining those windmills. You want perfect aesthetics, donate money to some kind of environmental group that serves your interest in having nice aesthetics by purchasing large parcels of land. Your "terrible aesthetics" argument could just as easily be used to justify mandatory plastic surgery for homely people. Heaven forbid you should ever have to look at an ugly person.
laplateau
9:04 am on Thursday, February 14, 2013
I know there are many pros and cons out there in regard to wind energy and it truly hard to weed fact from fiction on either side of the debate. One argument makes one claim, the other says it’s not true and cites some sort of obscure data in an attempt to debunk the other side. I think if nothing else, the noise problems that are generated by large installations of these things cannot be argued. Just one source says “"We're 2,400 feet away and it's really unbearable. It shakes the house and goes through our bones and bodies," David Wylie, who lives near three wind turbines in Maine, told the "Portland Press Herald. The other argument that cannot be debated, at least depending on your aesthetics, is these things ruin our the appearances of the countryside. I f you doubt that, take that ride up US 31 and see for yourself.
AXXEL KNUTSON
12:40 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
And give the name of our town a name it deserves, "Henry Ford, Michigan." "Dearborn" is meaningless to the city. Get with it.
laplateau
2:00 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Hey Colonel---come down off that high horse of yours...you are not in the Army anymore. Who do you think you are to say I am being "disrespectful" because I make some VERY plain and independent observations? That's all you can say to rebut my comments? It's my opinion only...and if you would like to live within 1000 feet of those monsters, well, have at it because there's LOTS of cheap property near those things now. No one wants to live nearby, not only because of the aesthetics, but also because of the low noise harmonics involved and the sun/light flicker. If your idea is that they are beautiful and attractive, FINE...that's your opinion...wrong, but yours anyway! So, COLONEL...you don’t even look good on that high horse anyway. Besides, I think I’d have a hard time deciding which was the real read end…you or the horses rump.
Col. Duke Lacrosse
3:16 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
I have obviously tangled with a man of immense brilliance...LOL
Lee Jacobsen
12:25 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
The suggestion for the Dearborn wind fan generator location was Dearborn City Hall, to take advantage of additional political wind. Nothing beautiful and attractive to look at with the new city hall, and the flat roof would be an ideal mounting spot.
Wind turbines are losing their luster. This site gives the realities.
http://windfarmrealities.org/
The claims are sort of like global warming proponents. Lots of reasons why wind turbines are wonderful, but the evidence does not add up, not even close.
Ever see a wind turbine farm? Most are never running. Most are designed to run at wind speeds of between 7 and 15 mph. Otherwise, to slow, or too fast.
Farmers hate them. A constant 'whish....whish....whissh.....whissh....would drive anyone nuts. Let's switch to tidal turbines. Easier to look at. See more here.
http://www.pressherald.com/news/ORPC-turbine-off-Eastport-is-the-first-to-do-so-in-North-America.html
Maine has the first one working in the USA. No noise , and water cooled.
laplateau
1:15 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Last night, Fox News had a report of a town in Mass. that were enacting a law to take their existing wind mills down. Apparently many of the residents were complaining of the ill effects they were experiencing with dizzienss, headaches, sleep deprivation, etc. Please listen for yourselves. http://video.foxnews.com/v/2189054120001/
laplateau
7:56 am on Friday, February 15, 2013
And, as for what I would have written for Obama as a speeeh writer...it would have gone something like this...I'm sorry I am such an extreme leftist and have screwed up so badly...I resign!
Dale Murrish
2:07 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
For more on wind energy near Purdue in Fowler, Indiana, read
http://troy.patch.com/blog_posts/a-guide-to-ballot-proposals-proposal-3
Indiana farmers earn $5-7K per year from the wind turbines on their land. Some don’t like the farm scenery spoiled, though.
Some in Troy, Michigan like the city ordinance we have against billboards along I-75, when the extra revenue from a few billboards could help the city. Most of those people probably voted for Prop 3. Government control, as long as it controls someone else.
Everything’s a tradeoff. I object when innocent human life is traded for my tax dollars, however, and I’m told I should be quiet and do it for the common good.
http://troy.patch.com/blog_posts/freedom-of-conscience-the-foundational-freedom
John David
6:14 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
Dale,
Just to clarify, there is no Troy ordinance against billboards along I-75.
Do you have information about the dollars Troy would actually get in revenue (taxes) for billboards along I-75?
J Arch
10:20 pm on Saturday, February 16, 2013
That would be zero because MDOT owns the right of way containing I-75, not the City of Troy.
laplateau
1:09 pm on Wednesday, February 27, 2013
I understand that a law was eneacted quite a few years ago that prevented any new billborads from being installed closer than 1000 feet from any highway. Others that were there before the law was enacted were grandfathered in until they were taken down. I haven't heard anything different about billborads since then.
Haulin T Male
10:27 am on Sunday, February 17, 2013
Troy Could have an Ordinance against Bill boards. But State Law trumps any local ordinance. The M-dot one wish it was at least twice the distance, in some States it must be like 1,000 ft, they are back to the point if you want to look you have to focus on it, other wise you can see the area your Trav. thru.
I went to G R last week , I see local owner, backed up old Hay wagon, and very old rusted out 1940's (?) trucks and built an "A" or Mansard frame around the vehicle, (dropped the frame on the vehicle, (could be lifted off) with a sign, this space for rent it was very close to the right away, I am sure M-dot is too busy to deal with that, the owner was def. going on his own, and by passing the usual sign co. paid commission. As for the wind energy's, all for them, Europe has them all over and has a very small issue with oil prices...... So. & No Dakota will be all but fossil fuel free very shortly, ( I know they have smaller pop. but still are pro active of getting off the dependency of coal etc.
AXXEL KNUTSON
9:58 am on Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Troy? No one cares about Troy.